ReadWrite - intelhttp://readwrite.com/tag/intel
enCopyright 2015 Wearable World Inc.http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:19:42 -0800Intel Introduces (Another) Computer On A Stick<!-- tml-version="2" --><div tml-image="ci01c407b3d0019512" tml-image-caption="" tml-bad-render-layout="inline"><figure><img src="http://a1.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,w_620/MTI3MjM1MTU3ODA2NTg1MTA2.png" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>You will soon be able to get a fully functional Windows 8 computer on a stick for $150.</p><p><a href="http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html">Intel</a> announced its Compute Stick at the Consumer Electronics Show on Wednesday. Unlike the similar looking Amazon Fire Stick or Chromecast, the Compute Stick is a fully functional computer that you can plug into an HDMI monitor. </p><blockquote tml-bad-render-layout="inline"><p><strong>See also: </strong><a href="http://readwrite.com/2015/01/06/intel-diversity-300m-gamergate"><strong>Intel Pledges $300M To Take On GamerGate And Diversity In Tech</strong></a></p></blockquote><p>That means it’s not just for streaming. By plugging in the Compute Stick and connecting a USB or Bluetooth keyboard, you can turn any HDMI monitor into a fully functional computer for a fraction of the usual price.</p><p>The Intel gizmo is built around an Atom quad-core processor. The Windows version will run Windows 8 and come with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of flash storage, while the Linux version comes with half the RAM and 8GB storage. The Linux version is also nearly half the price, at $89. </p><p>The Compute Stick will also come with full sized and micro USB ports, Bluetooth 4.0, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. It can’t be charged via the HDMI port, and instead relies on the micro USB port for power.</p><p>Intel says the Compute Stick is great for "light productivity, social networking, web browsing, streaming media, and games," essentially making it a kind of tablet substitute (without the portable touchscreen, of course). If you own an HDMI monitor and want to do more than just stream video, the Compute Stick is the smallest, cheapest option on the market for full-blown computing.</p><p><em>Photo via Intel</em></p>This one does way more than streaming video.http://readwrite.com/2015/01/07/intel-computer-on-a-stick
http://readwrite.com/2015/01/07/intel-computer-on-a-stickPlayWed, 07 Jan 2015 15:45:32 -0800Lauren OrsiniIntel Pledges $300M To Take On GamerGate And Diversity In Tech<!-- tml-version="2" --><div tml-image="ci01c3f70b4001efe2" tml-image-caption="" tml-bad-render-layout="inline"><figure><img src="http://a2.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI3MjE2ODQwMzA3OTYxODI2.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>Last year, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich sent a big virtual 3D whale over the audience at the Consumer Electronics Show. At his keynote this time around, he made a whale of an announcement instead: On Tuesday, he pledged a whopping $300 million to support women and diversity in technology over the next five years.&nbsp;</p><p>Krzanich also publicly announced that Intel has set the goal of reaching "full representation at all levels in our company’s workforce by 2020.” That includes everyone from the mail room to the C-suite.&nbsp;</p><p>That will be no easy feat. Intel employs more than 100,000 people across its organization, and more than half of that workforce skews Caucasian and male. In the upper levels of its management team, women only account for two of its 15 top-level execs and two of its 10 board directors. "We’re going to hold our leaders accountable, tying their pay to our progress,” Krzanich said.&nbsp;</p><p>It's commendable that Intel would publicly lay out its internal mission, as well as pledge support with a hefty dollar figure attached to it—especially in front of journalists who will surely follow up on both.&nbsp;</p><p>At last year's CES, removing conflict minerals from its production pipeline was Intel’s big cause. But after a year that saw female game developers harassed and victimized online, and intensely disappointing racial and gender diversity numbers issuing forth from one major tech company after another, Krzanich clearly pegged this as Intel's new cause.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>A conflux of industry events has brought this issue to the center stage. From the threats and harassments that have characterized the debate in the gaming world to the publication of hiring and diversity statistics in the tech industry. This is a highly relevant issue, and that we all need to address. I'm here to say tonight, it's time to step up and do more.&nbsp;</p></blockquote><p>The reason? Well, possibly because of the unfairness of it all, or maybe because it would bring a broader base of talent and perspectives. But there's also a decent chance it has something to do with that GamerGate kerfuffle a few months back relating to the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/11231892/Intel-reinstates-advertising-on-Gamasutra-after-Gamergate-campaign.html">heat Intel suffered over an advertisement</a>.&nbsp;Krzanich singled out gaming harassment as one of the negative forces Intel wants to rail against.&nbsp;</p><p><em>Photo by Adriana Lee for ReadWrite</em></p><p><em>Edited to add another quote from the keynote speech, along with other minor changes for clarity.&nbsp;</em></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>It pledges "full representation" across its entire workforce by 2020.http://readwrite.com/2015/01/06/intel-diversity-300m-gamergate
http://readwrite.com/2015/01/06/intel-diversity-300m-gamergateWorkTue, 06 Jan 2015 21:25:53 -0800Adriana LeeMeet Curie, Intel's Brand-New Wearable Processor<!-- tml-version="2" --><div tml-image="ci01c3f5e9100199de" tml-image-caption="" tml-bad-render-layout="inline"><figure><img src="http://a2.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI3MjE1NTg4ODYxODY1OTU0.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>At the Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich got very excited about something that looked like a button. Turns out, it was the company’s <a href="http://www.cesweb.org/News/Exhibitor-Press-Releases">brand-new, open-source wearable processor</a>, Curie<a href="http://www.cesweb.org/News/Exhibitor-Press-Releases"></a>, which just happened to be sized and shaped to resemble, well, a button.</p><p>Krzanich held the module with a couple of fingers in front of the audience. “Curie is really meant to be a platform,” he said. “It will be available in the second half of 2015.”</p><div tml-image="ci01c3f5e9a0019512" tml-image-caption="Looks like a button, but it's a system on a chip" tml-bad-render-layout="inline"><figure><img src="http://a3.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI3MjE1NTg4ODYxODQyNzA2.jpg" /><figcaption>Looks like a button, but it's a system on a chip</figcaption></figure></div><p>The move makes so much sense, it’s kind of amazing Intel hasn’t done this before. The company has been extremely hot on wearables, <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/09/30/intel-basis-peak-fitness-tracker">acquiring fitness-band maker Basis</a>, working with Opening Ceremony on the <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/11/18/intel-mica-smart-jewelry-bracelet-smartwatch">MICA smart cuff</a>, and either fueling or helping others bring forth numerous body-donning technologies.&nbsp;</p><p>Curie can go into jewelry, purses, eyeglasses, clothing detail or trim—basically, just about anything we slip on or strap to ourselves. It's also low power—a crucial feature for slim gadgets that couldn’t possibly house a giant battery.&nbsp;</p><div tml-image="ci01c3f62740019512" tml-image-caption="" tml-bad-render-layout="inline"><figure><img src="http://a2.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI3MjE1ODYxMzIzODMxNzc0.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>As a component, Curie builds off of Intel's Quark chip to create the Quark SE “system-on-a-chip,” essentially a very tiny computer system crammed onto a sliver of silicon. It includes Bluetooth Low Energy radios, sensors and battery charging functions, and supports gesture recognition.</p><p>Gestures could become more prevalent as input mechanisms for wearable devices, considering many do not come with touchscreens or voice recognition support.&nbsp;</p><p><em>Inset courtesy of BusinessWire; all other photos by Adriana Lee for ReadWrite</em></p>The wee little module is cute as a button, but powerful.http://readwrite.com/2015/01/06/intel-curie-wearable-processor
http://readwrite.com/2015/01/06/intel-curie-wearable-processorMobileTue, 06 Jan 2015 19:34:48 -0800Adriana LeeIntel, Luxottica Team Up To Create Ultimate Wearable<!-- tml-version="2" --><div tml-image="ci01b27a2650018266" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a2.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTIyMjk0NDQzNzg4MjM5NDYy.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>The fashion and tech worlds are intersecting yet again with a new partnership between Italian eyewear giant Luxottica and American technology behemoth Intel. Together, the companies will research and develop a pair of high-tech glasses, the New York Times <a href="http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/12/03/luxottica-and-intel-to-collaborate-on-eyewear-tech/">reports</a>. </p><p>This agreement, which has been in the making for two years, will center around a research and development team of Luxottica and Intel specialists based in California. Since both companies are extremely far-reaching in their respective fields—Luxottica controls the eyewear licenses for Armani, Burberry, Chanel and many other luxury brands, while Intel chips power everything from Apple computers to, reportedly, the <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/12/01/intel-chip-google-glass">latest Google Glass</a>—this partnership is poised to make waves in the world of wearable computing.</p><blockquote><p><strong>See also: </strong><a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/12/01/intel-chip-google-glass"><strong>Intel Chip To Power Google Glass In 2015: Report</strong></a></p></blockquote><p>Intel has made several different fashion partnerships this year, and each of them use the company’s smallest and most energy efficient chips. For example, the company’s tech-forward MICA bracelet was designed by fashion brand Opening Ceremony. </p><p>It should be noted that both companies have a relationship with Google Glass, providing either frames or a future chip to power the glasses. However, Luxottica chief executive Massimo Vian told the Times he doesn’t see this new partnership as competition toward Google Glass and neither company will be breaking off from its Google relationship.</p><p>“Google Glass is a specific product we are working on,” said Vian. “With Intel, we are researching new possibilities that can be applied or offered to many brands.”</p><p>Vian said consumers can expect the partnership’s to unveil its first product in 2015.</p><p><em>Photo of Google Glass via Google</em></p>They see no reason to break their alliances with Google Glass.http://readwrite.com/2014/12/03/intel-luxottica-wearable-partnership
http://readwrite.com/2014/12/03/intel-luxottica-wearable-partnershipPlayWed, 03 Dec 2014 11:35:57 -0800Lauren OrsiniIntel Chip To Power Google Glass In 2015: Report<!-- tml-version="2" --><div tml-image="ci01b2826a10016d19" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a4.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTIyMzAzNTMwMDU5OTg5NjA2.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>An Intel chip will replace a processor from Texas Instruments Inc. in the 2015 version of Google Glass, the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/google-glass-deal-thrusts-intel-deeper-into-wearable-devices-1417395598">Wall Street Journal</a> reported. </p><p>From now on, Intel will provide the brains to Google's Glass interface. People familiar with the matter said the shift is part of Intel’s growing interest in entering the wearable technology market. It would be a move in line with Intel’s previous activities this year, which included <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/03/25/intel-wearables-basis-acquisition">buying wearable producer Basis Science</a>, and creating its own chip specifically for powering wearables, Edison. </p><blockquote><p><strong>See also: </strong><a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/01/07/meet-edison-intel-tiny-plan-to-power-the-next-generation-of-wearables"><strong>Meet Edison, Intel’s Tiny Plan To Power The Next Generation Of Wearables</strong></a></p></blockquote><p>So far, it’s unclear which chip Intel will be using to power Google Glass, but it’s definitely one that’s smaller than Edison. The Verge’s Vlad Savov speculates that it’s one of the company’s tiniest and most low-powered chip, which powers <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/17/7235961/intel-reveals-mica-its-smart-cuff-wearable">Intel’s MICA bracelet</a>. </p><p>Intel chips power Google's servers, Nexus players, and self-driving cars. The companies have also been working together since 2011 to improve Google's Android and Chrome operating systems. It seems it was only a matter of time before the two companies chose to collaborate in new ways.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p><strong>See also: </strong><a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/09/10/intel-edison-raspberry-pi-arduino-comparison"><strong>How Intel's Edison Stacks Up Against Arduino And Raspberry Pi</strong></a></p></blockquote><p>With a four-figure price tag and a distinctly dorky appearance, Google Glass has had a lukewarm reception in the consumer market since its initial release in 2012. However, it did have some early success as a tool for the workplace, and that’s exactly how Intel plans to assist in marketing it. Intel’s efforts will join with Google’s <a href="https://developers.google.com/glass/distribute/glass-at-work">Glass at Work</a> project, which encourages adoption of Glass in fields like healthcare and construction, where workers need both hands free but also need vital data at the ready.</p><p><em>Photo via Google</em></p>So long, Texas Instrumentshttp://readwrite.com/2014/12/01/intel-chip-google-glass
http://readwrite.com/2014/12/01/intel-chip-google-glassPlayMon, 01 Dec 2014 06:52:07 -0800Lauren OrsiniIntel’s MICA Bracelet Just Might Be Smarter Than Your Average Smartwatch<!-- tml-version="2" --><p><em><a href="http://www.readwrite.com/series/pretty-geeky">Pretty Geeky</a> is an ongoing series that explores the role of style and design in wearable technology.&nbsp;</em></p><p>After months of ramping up, Intel’s partnership with design house Opening Ceremony officially made its bid for women's wrists Monday, filling in a few more details of what its new MICA intelligent bracelet—on sale next month—has to offer.&nbsp;</p><p>Good looks are a given. The cool-hunting designers from Berkeley are known for mixing classics with some edge and theatricality. That’s a perfect match for a new device in an emerging category with plenty to prove—mainly, that people should want to wear it.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p><strong>See also:&nbsp;<a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/09/16/mica-intel-werable-pretty-geeky">Intel's MICA Smart Bracelet, For Women Who Want Luxury Tech</a></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong></strong>End result: Intel technology stuffed inside a high-fashion Opening Ceremony design. The hard plastic accessory features an inward-facing, curved sapphire glass display, along with a hinged closure and luxury touches, including semi-precious stones, 18-karat gold accents and Ayers snakeskin exterior (in black or white).&nbsp;</p><p>It's a high-fashion item, and it comes with a high retail price to match: $495. But when you look into the details, that price may actually be cheaper than you think. In fact, it could be less expensive than your typical smartwatch—and more intelligent too.&nbsp;</p><h2>The Functionality's Looking Pretty Good</h2><div tml-image="ci01bfe58de001efe2" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a3.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI2MDcxNzExMjk1NjQyMDc4.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>Generally, most wrist-worn devices work primarily as fitness trackers or notifications gadgets. A few others—like Samsung’s Gear S smartwatch, will.i.am’s upcoming Puls cuff and Omate’s TrueSmart watch—attempt to do it all, essentially slapping a shrunken smartphone on our wrists. </p><p>MICA (pronounced "meeka") stands for "My Intelligent Communication Accessory,” so it's no surprise that it sits firmly in the notifications category. It could have hopped on the step-tracking or heart-monitoring bandwagon too, considering Intel bought quantified-fitness company Basis earlier this year. But it doesn't.&nbsp;</p><p>That’s a strength, not a weakness. While plenty of competitors try to stuff in as many features as possible, MICA has no such identity crisis. It knows exactly what it is and who it’s for: fashionable women who want to know when people contact them. And not just anyone.&nbsp;</p><p>The device offers VIP alerts, allowing some selectiveness over notifications. Intel's MICA lets users create lists of filters, so they can prioritize certain contacts or categories of messages. MICA also respects Gmail’s “Important" contacts filtering, making it easy to delineate which contacts get to reach you on the bracelet.&nbsp;</p><div tml-image="ci01bfe58e8001efe2" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a2.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI2MDcxNzExMjk1NzQ0NjQz.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>Granted, message filtering may not seem like high technology, but don’t underestimate its importance. Priority notifications have been a fundamental gap in all the major wearables I’ve tested this year. My wrists have basically become numb to vibration alerts, thanks to an incessant stream of emails, texts, Facebook updates and other notifications, all of which come flooding to my arm. Granular control that narrows them down to just the most important alerts has been pretty much non-existent. </p><p>Think of it this way—if you’re putting your phone away, you’re probably engaged in an activity that only the most important messages should disturb.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p><strong>See also: <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/07/03/lg-g-women-smartwatch-wearable-android-wear">What Not To (Android) Wear: One Woman's Search For Smartwatch Bliss</a></strong></p></blockquote><p>The alerts may land on that inward-facing screen, or just subtly vibrate. Either way, they don’t rely on your smartphone as the source. MICA is a standalone device, with its own data connection, that functions independently.&nbsp;</p><p>Intel claims MICA can run for two days between charges. In reality, that's not much. But that says more about the dismal state of battery life in all wearables, not just this bracelet in particular. Two days is actually on the longer side of the typical range for any connected wrist gadget with a display.&nbsp;<br tml-linebreak="true" /></p><h2>The Expense Is Just Skin Deep</h2><div tml-image="ci01bfe5a3f00099de" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a1.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,w_620/MTI2MDcxODA1MjQ4MDczNjk4.png" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>The $495 price may be average, even cheap, for a luxury designer accessory. This is, after all, a water snake-skin bracelet with high-quality materials. The black version features pearls from China and lapis stones from Madagascar, while the white bracelet offers a tiger's eye from South Africa and obsidian from Russia.&nbsp;</p><p>Even so, it's still a gob-smacking sum for a market that tends to hyperventilate when prices rise above $250.&nbsp;Here's what levels the price out: The bracelet comes with two free years of AT&amp;T wireless service.&nbsp;</p><p>The details or data limits in the plan haven’t been disclosed, but at minimum, <a href="https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/dataplans.html">AT&amp;T charges $15 for 250MB of monthly data</a>. Over two years, that's $360, which means MICA’s hardware actually costs about $135.&nbsp;</p><p>Thanks to that connectivity, MICA is not beholden to another device. It can freely pipe select texts, Gmail messages, calendar appointments and Facebook alerts. Built-in GPS also serves Yelp alerts for stores and restaurants in the vicinity, and lets TomTom push “Time to Go” prompts, which know where and when your next appointment is, can estimate travel time based on your location, and tell you when to leave.&nbsp;</p><div tml-image="ci01bfe58e50019512" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a5.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI2MDcxNzExMjk1Njc5MTA3.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>And if you somehow lose the bracelet, you can locate it, access it remotely or lock it down from an online portal.&nbsp;</p><p>What you can't do is pay for things—like the Apple Watch or <a href="https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/PayPal-Forward/Pebblers-Meet-PayPal-PayPal-App-Now-Available-for-Pebble/ba-p/907721">Pebble</a>. But mobile payments aren't a proven, essential feature yet. Messages, notifications and remote geo-location are.&nbsp;</p><p>Likewise, you can’t snap a photo, write an email or track your steps. In terms of entering information, you can only send canned or pre-set customized responses to messages. But that's a product of feature distillation, not a flaw. MICA doesn't want to be all things to all people. It focuses on its primary function—to provide useful notifications, and to make sure you look good wearing it. &nbsp;</p><div tml-image="ci01bfe58dd001efe2" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a3.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI2MDcxNzExMjk1NjEzNTcx.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>To start, MICA will launch at Opening Ceremony retail locations in New York and Los Angeles, select Barneys locations in New York, and online at OpeningCeremony.us and Barneys.com.&nbsp;</p><p>For more information, you can check out the <a href="http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/blog/2014/11/17/opening-ceremony-intel-take-wraps-off-capabilities-for-mica-my-intelligent-communication-accessory">company’s press release here</a>. Or view Intel’s promo video below, starring <em>Parks and Rec</em>’s Rashida Jones.&nbsp;</p><p><em>Photo of white MICA on a wrist by ReadWrite. All others courtesy of&nbsp;Intel/Opening Ceremony</em></p>Despite its big price tag, it’s actually cheaper, too.http://readwrite.com/2014/11/18/intel-mica-smart-jewelry-bracelet-smartwatch
http://readwrite.com/2014/11/18/intel-mica-smart-jewelry-bracelet-smartwatchMobileTue, 18 Nov 2014 12:31:08 -0800Adriana LeeWhy The Internet of Things Has To Be Open Sourced<!-- tml-version="2" --><div tml-image="ci01bd30c200012a83" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a2.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI1MzA5OTczMzQ0Mjk5NjUx.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>In a world increasingly shaped by software, developers are market makers. Nowhere is this more true than in the burgeoning Internet of Things market.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p><strong>See also: <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/06/27/internet-of-things-developers-jobs-opportunity">The Internet Of Things Will Need Millions Of Developers By 2020</a></strong></p></blockquote><p>Currently riddled by a mess of competing proprietary standards, the winner in the Internet of Things will be the one that goes furthest to make developers' lives easier.&nbsp;</p><h2>Sourcing Developers</h2><p>Though <a href="http://www.visionmobile.com/blog/2014/10/kingmakers-internet-things/?utm_source=VisionMobile+subscriber+list&amp;utm_campaign=a11fce13ab-2014_10+October+Newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_efe0e34ffa-a11fce13ab-394584538">VisionMobile estimates</a> put the total Internet of Things developer population at 3.2 million today, only a fraction of those are dedicated to IoT. Even so, this dedicated core of developers will more than double by 2015, and increase more than tenfold by 2020, according to VisionMobile:</p><div tml-image="ci01a8bfd7cc53860b" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a3.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTE4MDAzNDE3OTY0MTE5NTY2.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>For those trying to reach them, there is no particular center of gravity:</p><div tml-image="ci01bd19e240019512" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a2.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,w_620/MTI1Mjg0ODIzMzU4MDIwMDYy.png" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>This presents both opportunity and challenge to those hoping to harness developer productivity, as VisionMobile points out:</p><blockquote><p>[Internet of Things] developers are everywhere—from Silicon Valley to Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur, from small towns to mega-cities. There is no single area that dominates [Internet of Things] innovation in terms of developer population. This is good news for entrepreneurs all over the world. You don’t need to be in the right spot, because there isn’t any.</p></blockquote><p>That's the good news. The bad news is that with such a diffuse developer population, most of which is sequestered in startups of fewer than 50 people, reaching them becomes extremely difficult. In a recent survey, 50% of developers told VisionMobile their primary way of getting information is through online communities.</p><p>Which is just one more reason to believe the only way to reach Internet of Things developers effectively is through open source.</p><h2>Opening Up The Internet Of Things</h2><p>Developers have turned to open source and cloud computing to escape artificial constraints on their productivity, and the same will be true in the Internet of Things.</p><p><a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/08/standard-behavior-in-an-internet-goldrush/?_php=true&amp;_type=blogs&amp;_r=0">Big companies hoping to compete for Internet of Things dollars</a> clearly understand this. Among the various technology standards competing for attention, various open source alternatives are on the rise, including one from the very promising <a href="https://allseenalliance.org/about/why-allseen">AllSeen Alliance</a>.</p><p>Bosch, a significant contender and a member of AllSeen, <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/stefferber/20141015-eclipse-webinarinfomodels">describes</a> why open source is so important in its proposal for the <a href="http://projects.eclipse.org/proposals/vorto">Vorto project</a>, which aims to standardize IoT information models:</p><div tml-image="ci01bd1a139001c80a" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a5.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,w_620/MTI1Mjg1MDM1NDIyMDY3MzMx.png" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>Drilling into those assumptions, Bosch notes:</p><ul><li>Consumers want to use a large variety of devices in their ecosystem and don‘t want to be limited to using devices of one specific vendor.&nbsp;</li><li>Vendors of IoT devices want to increase the number of ecosystems where their devices can be integrated.&nbsp;</li><li>Vendors of IoT platforms want to integrate as much as devices as possible into their ecosystem without major effort.</li><li>Application developers want to support a broad range of devices without a need to develop vendor specific code.</li></ul><p>All of these reasons point to open source. And yet, as ARM's <a href="http://radar.oreilly.com/2014/02/hurdles-to-the-internet-of-things-prove-more-social-than-technical.html">Bill Curtis has pointed out</a>, "Because most Internet standards are too complex for the constrained devices in the [Internet of Things], these devices tend to run proprietary protocols, creating data silos." Because of <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/03/03/internet-things-money">the proliferation of "standards,"</a> proprietary and open source, device manufacturers are tightly coupling proprietary sensors into proprietary networks.</p><p>This can't last.&nbsp;</p><h2>And The Winner Is ...</h2><p>It's way too soon to declare a winner in the Internet of Things. It's too new and there's far too much noise around competing standards.</p><p>Ironically, most of the noise today comes from competing open source standardization efforts, with a recent ruckus caused by Intel refusing to join AllSeen and Broadcom dropping out of the Open Interconnect Consortium. Both bailed the respective consortia&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cbronline.com/news/tech/software/opensource/broadcom-quits-intels-open-interconnect-consortium-4402726">because of IP issues</a>.</p><p>But let's be clear: None of these companies lining up to join this or that foundation will prove dispositive in cementing any particular standard as <em>the</em> open source standard. Developers do that.</p><p>And developers are attracted by tools and platforms that make them more productive, fast. Getting a marquee list of donors to a foundation is meaningless if the foundation doesn't generate code that appeals to developers. (Just ask OpenStack, which continues to attract more vendors than buyers/developers, as <a href="https://twitter.com/mappingbabel/status/522182251010736128">Jack Clark highlights</a>.)</p><p>Companies will win over Internet of Things not in the boardroom, but on the command line. The consortium that gets excellent code to market first, with a community that provides great documentation and an inviting atmosphere, will win. So far, only AllSeen has done that, with <a href="https://allseenalliance.org/source-code">code available for download today</a>. Whether it will retain that advantage is for developers to decide.</p><p><em>Lead image via <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/2712985992">woodleywonderworks</a></em></p>Developers aren't going to go for proprietary standards.http://readwrite.com/2014/10/17/internet-of-things-open-source-iot-developers
http://readwrite.com/2014/10/17/internet-of-things-open-source-iot-developersHackFri, 17 Oct 2014 07:00:00 -0700Matt AsayThe Basis Peak Puts Intel In The Arm Race<!-- tml-version="2" --><p>In a gritty intersection on Folsom Street, the famous thoroughfare of San Francisco's SoMa district, the past and future of wearables face off.&nbsp;</p><p>On the south side, there's Mr. S Leather, which has offered a certain genre of hardware to its clientele for decades.&nbsp;Across the way, in a sun-dappled loft, there's a new outpost of Intel. Since they <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/03/25/intel-wearables-basis-acquisition">became employees of the giant chipmaker in March</a>, the hardware and software engineers of <a href="http://mybasis.com/">Basis Science</a> have been working on a new fitness-tracking smartwatch.&nbsp;</p><p>If Mr. S's wares make people's heart race, then Basis wants its gear to be on hand to record every beat. On Tuesday, Intel is announcing the Basis Peak, a device it will start selling in November for $199, in matte-black and brushed-aluminum styles. Amazon, Best Buy, and REI will stock the device.</p><div tml-image="ci01bbd0fb10019512" tml-image-caption="Intel's Basis Peak fitness tracker and smartwatch."><figure><img src="http://a5.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTI0OTIzMTg5Nzk2MDIyOTE1.jpg" /><figcaption>Intel's Basis Peak fitness tracker and smartwatch.</figcaption></figure></div><h2>A Fitness Tracker With Heart</h2><p>Like Basis's original B1 band, the Peak will capture users' heart rate all day. That's a key differentiator from simple fitness trackers like the Jawbone Up and Fitbit.&nbsp;</p><p>So what's new? The Peak will—how to put this delicately?—actually do the job right. There are a host of improvements in the Peak, from the charger design to the setup process to the wristbands, but the most important is in its core heart-rate function.&nbsp;</p><p>The problem with the B1's optical heart-rate technology, Basis CEO Jef Holove acknowledged in a recent interview, is that it got heart rate right for most of the day, but it failed to capture the <a href="http://readwrite.com/2013/10/03/heart-rate-monitors-quantified-self">swings in heart rate that people achieve during vigorous exercise</a>.</p><p>If you look at the backside of the B1 and the Peak, you notice a glaring difference: Basis has dramatically boosted the power of the LEDs that light up your skin to read minute variations in your blood vessels that indicate your pulse. That power boost allows the Peak—as the name suggests—to better capture variations in heart rate. (Basis's sensors also detect perspiration and body temperature.)</p><p>At the same time, the Peak still uses all-day heart-rate data to assess your overall health, including factors like sleep quality. (There's <a href="http://www.livescience.com/42710-fitness-trackers-sleep-monitoring-accuracy.html">some controversy</a>&nbsp;among scientists over Basis's claims about sleep tracking via heart rate.)</p><p>"We still value 24/7 tracking," Holove told me. "It turns out you can do both."</p><p>And a little more, too: Basis says a future software update will let the Peak, which has a touchscreen, display notifications from a paired smartphone. That will put it in competition with the likes of the Pebble, smartwatches running Android Wear, and the forthcoming Apple Watch. The Peak's price and capabilities put it in the middle of the pack—more expensive than a Pebble, cheaper than a Moto 360 or Apple's heart-rate-tracking smartwatch.</p><p>But health measurement will remain the crucial differentiator for the Basis Peak. Its jacked-up heart-rate capabilities will make it more appealing to runners and cyclists, who are more likely to spend $199 on a piece of gear that tracks their heart rate.</p><p>The challenge for Basis and Intel will be to market the Peak to the rest of us.</p><p>"Our job is to make heart rate relevant to people who don't have a clue about heart rate," said Holove. "People who are intrinsically motivated, the thing they love about devices like us is how much data we give them. It's like sports tuning. But the vast, vast majority aren't that. They're extrinsically motivated."</p><p>What that means is that most people need some kind of push to pursue healthy habits. Basis's companion mobile apps for iOS and Android will provide that, giving users a sense of "virtual progress," Holove said, until they can see visible improvements in their health from pursuing new habits like exercise.</p><p>From the brief look I got at the Peak, Basis under Intel has made more than just virtual progress. The device is a substantial improvement over the B1, which I <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/03/06/intel-basis-fitness-tracker-smartwatch-arm-race">found deficient in both performance and design</a>. But it's entering a far more crowded market. If the Peak on Holove's wrist is measuring an increase in his heart rate today, he's got good reason.</p>A fitness tracker to make your heart race.http://readwrite.com/2014/09/30/intel-basis-peak-fitness-tracker
http://readwrite.com/2014/09/30/intel-basis-peak-fitness-trackerMobileTue, 30 Sep 2014 04:00:00 -0700Owen ThomasIntel's MICA Smart Bracelet, For Women Who Want Luxury Tech<!-- tml-version="2" --><p><em><a href="http://www.readwrite.com/series/pretty-geeky">Pretty Geeky</a> is an ongoing series that explores the role of style and design in wearable technology.&nbsp;</em></p><p>Luxury fashion is coming from an unexpected source.&nbsp;</p><p>Chipmaker Intel wants to make wearables look good, a feat that has only been accomplished by a <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/06/13/ringly-smart-ring-notifications-wearable-technology-women">handful of smaller companies</a> looking to capitalize on the fashionista’s desire to dress up while staying connected. </p><p>In a partnership with fashion house Opening Ceremony, Intel <a href="http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wearables/fashion-technology.html">created&nbsp;MICA</a><a href="http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wearables/fashion-technology.html"></a>, or “My Intelligent Communication Accessory,” a luxury bracelet for the technically fabulous.</p><p>Intel’s smart cuff isn’t like most wearable smartwatches or bangles you can buy today. Its high price, retailing under $1,000, and trendy design featuring semi-precious stones, 14-karat gold plating and black or white snakeskin, targets an upscale market of women who want the convenience of a connected device, but are willing to splurge on style.</p><blockquote><p><strong>See also: <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/09/11/welcome-to-pretty-geeky-series">Welcome to ReadWrite's New "Pretty Geeky" Wearable Tech Series</a></strong></p></blockquote><p>"Once you start to wear something on your body, it becomes an expression of yourself," said Sandra Lopez, director of business development at Intel’s New Devices Group. "It’s not about&nbsp;putting a piece of technology on your wrist, but much more about both aesthetics and functionality."&nbsp;</p><p>Like other smart jewelry, MICA receives notifications including texts and meeting alerts, but they're discreetly hidden on a 1.6-inch curved sapphire glass touchscreen display on the underside of the wrist. What people will see is the the obsidian, tiger’s eye, pearls or lapis stones that make the luxury cuff, well, luxurious.</p><p>Intel is still working with third-party apps, so the company isn’t ready to announce the full capabilities of MICA yet, but it's expected to have a more comprehensive set of features—more than the SMS already announced—when it’s available to the public in November.&nbsp;</p><p>The cuff is data-only, so it has no phone or voice capabilities. At launch, AT&amp;T will be the exclusive network provider.</p><p>MICA is designed to be a standalone device, and it comes with its own distinct sim card and 3G data, so if you don’t have your phone, you can still get mobile notifications. The bracelet can be charged with both a micro USB and Intel's <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/intel-dreams-up-a-smart-bowl-that-will-charge-gadgets/">wireless charging bowl</a>. Intel hasn't disclosed what the battery life will be, and if it needs to be charged regularly, as in, more than once a day, it might make the bracelet a nonstarter.</p><h2>It’s Pretty, But Is It Worth It?</h2><div tml-image="ci01b7298aba11860e" tml-image-caption="" tml-render-size="medium" tml-render-position="right"><figure><img src="http://a1.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTIzMDQ5NjY1MTcwMjc3OTAw.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>There’s no doubt MICA is an attractive piece of jewelry. I’ve lamented that the current crop of wearables is too ugly to put on my wrist, either because they dwarf my small bones, or because despite attempts to brand them otherwise, smart accessories still look like shrunken smartphones with rubber tied around them. </p><p>Though I might not be entirely fashion-conscious, I do enjoy matching my clothes and accessories. </p><p>Because the MICA comes in two colors—black and white—it goes with virtually any outfit. And being designed specifically with women in mind, it fits nicely on my arm. </p><p>But here’s where it gets ugly—the MICA cuff only comes in one size; a 6.7 inch circumference. If my hands-on experience is any indication, that size is rather small. I’m not as thin as the models posing with the cuff in Intel’s advertising, but my wrists do tend to measure on the small side. And even I had a hard time turning it around comfortably, and moving it up and down my arm.</p><blockquote><p><strong>See also: <a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/09/04/fashionistas-wearable-gadget-style">What Fashionistas Want In A Wearable</a></strong></p></blockquote><p>According to Lopez, Intel's industrial design team looked at the average size of wrists for women in general, and created one size they thought women would want. A one-size-fits-all model is standard for jewelry designers, but it might not cut it in technology.</p><p>Just as watchmakers should make multiple sizes and styles of smartwatches—<a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/09/09/iwatch-apple-features-software">thank you, Apple!</a>—for different demographics planning on shelling out a few hundred dollars for a connected device, fashion designers dabbling in tech accessories should consider that not all women or men have the same size wrists. </p><p>MICA isn’t for everyone, but for women willing to spend almost a thousand dollars on a piece of connected designer jewelry, MICA might be a good option, providing battery life and app compatibility gets them through the day. But tech consumers looking for a wearable that does as much as a smartphone shouldn’t splurge on this first-generation fashion and communications accessory.</p><p>Fashionistas can find MICA at Barneys New York this holiday season.&nbsp;</p><p><em>Model photos by Intel. Other photos by Selena Larson and Owen Thomas for ReadWrite.</em></p><p><em>To submit product pitches or story ideas, or to contact the Pretty Geeky editors, please contact <strong>prettygeeky@readwrite.com</strong>.&nbsp;</em></p>High-fashion for the tech-savvy.http://readwrite.com/2014/09/16/mica-intel-werable-pretty-geeky
http://readwrite.com/2014/09/16/mica-intel-werable-pretty-geekyMobileTue, 16 Sep 2014 09:51:24 -0700Selena LarsonHow Intel's Edison Stacks Up Against Arduino And Raspberry Pi<!-- tml-version="2" --><div tml-image="ci01a33b7b84a2860e" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a4.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,q_80,w_620/MTIyMzk5Mjg5MDk4Mjc0MzE2.jpg" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>At long last, Intel has <a href="http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/do-it-yourself/edison.html">shipped its tiny Edison computer</a>. Announced in January, this $50 module—which Intel insists on calling a "development platform"—is ready for your latest maker projects. </p><blockquote><p><strong>See also: </strong><a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/01/07/meet-edison-intel-tiny-plan-to-power-the-next-generation-of-wearables"><strong>Meet Edison, Intel’s Tiny Plan To Power The Next Generation Of Wearables</strong></a></p></blockquote><p>Intel has hinted at big plans<a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/10/intel-shares-more-of-its-extreme-makeover/?_php=true&amp;_type=blogs&amp;_r=0"></a> for Edison; it clearly hopes to seed the device, or something like it, so widely that it might end up a <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/10/intel-shares-more-of-its-extreme-makeover/">standard for the still-emerging Internet of Things</a>. For now, however, Intel is positioning Edison as a DIY device for makers and hobbyists, promising to "<a href="http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/do-it-yourself/edison.html">lower the barriers to entry for entrepreneurs of all sizes</a>" by including specs for makers and a <a href="https://communities.intel.com/community/makers/edison/forums">forum</a> for showing off Edison-based projects.&nbsp;Indeed, the only places Edison is available for sale so far are hobby sites.&nbsp;</p><p>Ready for both Wi-Fi connections and hardware peripherals, Edison should adapt easily to projects great and small around the connected home. About the size of an SD card, the Edison might also find itself powering new kinds of wearables.</p><p>I lined up Edison’s specs with those of the Arduino Uno and the Raspberry Pi Model B+, two of the most popular hackable devices on the market:</p><div tml-image="ci01a87e1f71da860f" tml-image-caption=""><figure><img src="http://a2.files.readwrite.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,w_620/MTIzMDQ5NjY1MDgzNDQyNzAw.png" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><p>Edison is at the high end of the bunch, but still affordable for hobbyists. Perhaps the most surprising thing about Edison is just how much smaller it is than its contemporaries.</p><p>It's not surprising that the older Arduino Uno is both relatively large and underpowered compared to its rivals; the Uno as we know it began shipping in 2011. But the Raspberry Pi Model B+ launched just a few months ago, in June, and by comparison the Edison's capabilities are downright impressive. </p><blockquote><p><strong>See also: </strong><a href="http://readwrite.com/2014/05/07/arduino-vs-raspberry-pi-projects-diy-platform"><strong>Arduino Vs. Raspberry Pi: Which Is The Right DIY Platform For You?</strong></a></p></blockquote><p>In all likelihood though, the Edison isn’t going to compete head-to-head with either device, the same way the Pi and Arduino complement one another more than they compete. In fact, Intel has already released an <a href="https://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-23161">Arduino expansion</a>. And since Edison runs Linux, we’ll also probably see projects that use both the Edison and the Pi. </p><p>In any case, Edison’s size is what is going to help it find its niche in the DIY world. Something that tiny can find its way into even less intrusive connected home and wearable devices. According to Intel's maker forum, this is exactly the direction Intel is hoping for. The next step is up to makers.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Edit:</strong> This article has been updated on Sept. 11 to reflect the actual clock speed of the Edison. Previously, we incorrectly gave clock output.</p><p><em>Image courtesy of Intel</em></p>Which one is right for your DIY project?http://readwrite.com/2014/09/10/intel-edison-raspberry-pi-arduino-comparison
http://readwrite.com/2014/09/10/intel-edison-raspberry-pi-arduino-comparisonHackWed, 10 Sep 2014 12:53:41 -0700Lauren Orsini